Natural language processing helps the AI understand your prompt and generates responses that feel empathetic. Your initial prompt is important as it allows the AI to match helpful responses.

So, let’s put it into practice with Solly and Addy. Shall we compare two different ways of asking for help, guys?

ADDY: ‘What should I do if I’ve had an argument with a friend because we like the same person. I don’t want to lose my friend.’

That’s actually some good advice.

SOLLY: It’s not bad, is it? It’s good, yeah.

ADDY: It’s really thought through.

SOLLY: How about, ‘I argued with my best friend over someone we both liked romantically and now they’re ignoring my messages. I don’t want to lose my friend, so please give me a calm text I could send to start fixing things.’

It’s laid out really nice and well.

ADDY: Yeah, it’s good that there’s multiple points. Yeah. It kind of explains the whole process.

SOLLY: It explains it well. It’s even got here a transcription of what they might say back, which is interesting.

GARETH: And clear steps, isn’t it?

SOLLY: Yeah, nice clear steps.

GARETH: The second gave you some options of text messages you can actually use and send to begin fixing things.

ADDY: We can make it even more useful if we ask what to do after we send the message or if the friend doesn’t respond.

SOLLY: Yes, more detail is definitely better.

GARETH: But what if you want more options to support you?

SOLLY: How about, ‘Can you give me a list of five top tips I can try to calm myself down, and five things I can do to fix things with my friend?’

ADDY: Hmm. I feel like this, it feels useful because it is really giving you that.

SOLLY: It’s giving you exactly what you want, which is definitely perfect. I really do like the… what was it? Name it to tame it. I love ‘Name it to tame it.’ That’s good, yeah.

ADDY: This feels better. We’re being specific about the format we want: ‘Five Top Tips’ and asking it to build on the previous context.

SOLLY: And asking for tips to calm down first is actually really useful. It’s making the AI give us a de-stress strategy alongside fixing things with our mates.

GARETH: AI isn’t a therapist. It’s using data to simulate empathy. By being specific, the AI can point you towards practical skills for managing emotions and situations.

But remember, it’s a tool, not a therapist. It’s not a substitute for a fully trained mental health worker who can understand your emotions, reactions and body language.

ADDY: The more you refine your requests with context and specific requests, the more useful the answers will be. Think about what you really want help with.

SOLLY: AI can help you find practical tips, but for a truly nuanced and empathetic response, it’s still worth talking to a person you trust.

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